“How are they doing?” I ask softly.
“Not great. Uncle Liam… It brings back those memories. Mom, Aunty…” I look up at him, his jaw tight, and although his voice is level, his eyes are full of sorrow. “Katara, she’s not eaten anything. She was inconsolable earlier, and now she’s just in shock. Their grandparents are trying, but… you can see its effect on them all… and I get it… that kind of loss…”
I nod, wincing when pain shoots through my neck. “Mm… and Jayce?” I ask softly.
“He’s quiet. Sienna might be able to say more. I did seeher with him earlier,” he replies quietly.
I nod, hesitating, but I don’t really care what anyone thinks and ask what has been on my mind all day. “And Theo?”
Tatum turns to look down at me. For a moment, he’s silent. “The two of you have gotten close.” I don’t say anything, waiting for the answer to my question. He sighs heavily. “He’s been pretty absent. I haven’t seen him around.”
My heart sinks.
What?
Seeing my expression, Tatum nods. “I heard him shouting earlier before he stormed off. Alpha Damon tried to get him to calm down, but he just got further pissed off. Then Azura tried to talk to him, but she returned pretty quickly, too.”
“And how are she and Aunty Kiara doing?” I ask.
“Devastated.”
Of course.
I can’t believe Aunty Raven is really gone…
Tatum carries me through the trees, the gravel crunching beneath his boots, the smell of smoke still heavy in the air.
“The body was in a bad state…” he whispers, and I cast a privacy spell.
“What do you mean?”
“Her head was cut off. Her bones were broken, and her nose was smashed up; she was barely recognisable. Mom reattached her head and reconstructed her nose and otherbones. But she still doesn’t look like herself; the swelling is too much.”
I feel sick just hearing that. “I can’t believe this happened,” I whisper.
“Yeah, I know,” he says sadly as the mansion comes into view. The lights are on, and I can tell, despite it being so late, the house is very much awake.
“Should we be here?” I whisper.
“They are serving food from here, as the packhouse is riddled with the injured. Aunty Kiara is there along with Shahira.”
“Oh, ok… then put me down,” I say.
“You’re spent,” he reminds me, making me look up at him.
“I’ll be fine.” He hesitates before nodding and placing me down. “Is Sher here?”
“Yes, she’s been helping out.”
I nod. “Great.” I take a few steadying breaths, wanting to compose myself before I walk towards the entrance of the mansion, my legs barely cooperating. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to this point. I might need to start storing energy reserves like Sienna does.
The door stands ajar, the warmth from inside is welcoming, but I know what I’ll see when I enter, something I have witnessed twice before… a family in immeasurable pain.
We’ve been there…
My heart thumps, and I don’t know if it’s from exhaustion or the memories, but I’m struggling to regulate myself. Entering the house, I walk quietly, stopping before I reach the archway to the lounge.
Uncle Liam is missing, and Jaddati is sitting there rocking one of Azura’s twins to sleep. Grandpa Elijah is sitting with his hand on Renji’s shoulder, whose eyes look emptier than I have ever seen on him, as he sits on the floor beside his grandfather’s legs, his face void of its usual smile.
